Boston, MA - April 19: Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey drives to the basket in between Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and center Nikola Vucevic in the first quarter. The Celtics played the 76ers in Game 1 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2026. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
The Philadelphia 76ers targeted Jayson Tatum early and often in Game 1 — and may have revealed that one of Boston’s old strengths is still available for another title run.
Now, it’s no secret that Tatum is back and looking good. He made headlines with a dominant showing in his return to playoff basketball on Sunday, finishing with 25 points on 52.9% shooting from the field, 11 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals, as he and Jaylen Brown led the Celtics to a 32-point blowout.
While his offensive output was impressive, his defensive performance may be just as important for Boston’s title chances.
Tatum has always been a strong defender. He’s got the length and lateral agility to stick with guards on the perimeter, and the size and strength to battle with some big men in the post. That versatility enables the Celtics to deploy a highly switchable defense, especially when the team runs Tatum as a small-ball 5.
The Celtics utilized Tatum defensively against opposing 5s to great effect during the team’s 2024 championship run, when it used the strategy to defang the lob-happy Mavericks in the Finals. By having Tatum guard Dereck Lively II or Daniel Gafford and switch on screens, Boston neutralized the benefits of Dallas’ 1-5 pick and rolls, as Luka Dončić was unable to use the action to hunt the Celtics’ slower big men. Limiting that action also pulled Dallas’ bigs out of their comfort zone, since they were unable to fulfill their most dangerous roles as PnR lob threats.
Nevertheless, last year’s Achilles tear threw all of that into question. The Achilles tendon is like a spring that enables people to push their feet off the ground, so many who rupture it lose lateral agility and explosive burst — two crucial factors for a defender in the NBA.
Yet in the small sample since his March return, Tatum’s defense has shown little evidence of a drop-off.
In the 16 games he played before the end of the regular season, Tatum posted a career-low in block percentage (0.6%), but also career-highs in defensive rebound percentage (31.3%) and steal percentage (2.1%). While advanced defensive metrics can be unreliable, Tatum set another career-high with a +1.8 in defensive box plus/minus, according to Basketball Reference.
However, the Sixers did not appear to be convinced heading into Game 1.
The NBA Playoffs are all about poking and prodding for weaknesses, then game planning to exploit those weaknesses. Philadelphia Head Coach Nick Nurse clearly believed Tatum’s defense could be a potential weakness, as the Sixers deliberately targeted him from the jump.
In Philly’s second offensive possession of the game, Sixers star Tyrese Maxey isolated Tatum on the wing, pulled back to wind up for a blowby, then drove to Tatum’s left. But, instead of a blowby, Tatum stuck hip-to-hip with Maxey, steered him to the baseline and forced a pass into a missed corner three-pointer.
If that was an isolated incident it wouldn’t mean much, but it wasn’t. Maxey — whose blazing speed makes him a tricky cover on the perimeter — targeted Tatum in isolation three more times in the first quarter alone. Of those four isolation possessions, Maxey only scored on one, where he drove into the paint, improvised a couple moves and slipped a circus shot past the outstretched arms of Tatum and Nikola Vučević.
Four possessions is very little to work with, but the results did not appear to be a fluke. Tatum was able to keep up with Maxey’s drives, dance with him on the perimeter and get a good contest on each shot.
Nurse and the rest of the Sixers must have noticed, too, since they tested Tatum in isolation less and less as the game went on. In the second quarter, Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr. both got an isolation possession against Tatum, but neither resulted in a bucket. By the time the third quarter rolled around, the Sixers had multiple chances to isolate Tatum, but started passing out to explore other action. Philly only tried to isolate him twice over the second half of the game, with neither attempt proving successful.
In addition to his impressive work in isolation, Tatum played solid help defense and displayed his elite versatility by switching onto multiple Sixers, including Philly’s 6’10” starting center, Adem Bona.
Overall, the Sixers only shot 6-19 from the field (31.6%) in Game 1 with Tatum as the primary defender, according to NBC Sports Boston’s Chris Forsberg.
That number will change as the series progresses — Philly struggled to hit shots all night and likely won’t continue to shoot so poorly — but Tatum has so far passed the test with flying colors.
While Tatum has yet to be tasked with regularly guarding opposing 5s as he was in the 2025 NBA Finals, if he can keep up this level of defensive play, there’s little reason to think he can’t handle that role again. And, at this point in Tatum’s return, how could anyone who has been paying any attention doubt him?
Apr 20, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) before a face-off against the Philadelphia Flyers during the third period n game two of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Charles LeClaire/Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Penguins’ resilience carried them to a surprise playoff berth.
Sidney Crosby and company will need to rely on it, maybe a lot of it, if they want their postseason appearance to be more than a token cameo.
It took the Philadelphia Flyers roughly 48 hours to take all the good vibes Pittsburgh generated during a resurgent season and make them a distant memory. Winning a pair of games on the road and shutting down one of the top offenses in the NHL will do that.
The Penguins visibly were frustrated on the ice and notably chastened off it following a 3-0 loss in Game 2 that dropped them in a significant hole when the series shifts east to Philadelphia.
“I think we’ve been in some tough spots all year,” said Crosby, who was held without a point for the second straight game. “We’ve always responded really well to adversity. It seems like it’s brought out the best in all of us.”
Pittsburgh’s best likely will be required against the young Flyers, who have had no trouble carrying their searing finishing kick to the regular season into the playoffs. While Philadelphia didn’t put on a defensive clinic as it did for most of Game 1, when the Penguins were limited to just 17 shots, the Flyers largely limited Pittsburgh to firing away from the outside.
The Penguins generated 27 shots on goal and generated another 48 that either missed the net or were blocked. The ones that found their way to Dan Vladar were turned away. The ones that didn’t mostly were long blasts from the outside that missed the mark.
“Everything’s harder, it’s supposed to be harder, it’s the NHL playoffs,” Penguins coach Dan Muse said. “You’re going to have to do those little things that can give you an extra inch, finding a shot lane a little bit quicker, working to get to the net front a little bit faster.”
Pittsburgh’s power play, which was ranked a respectable seventh during the regular season, is now 0 for 7 through two games. The Penguins actually were outscored when they were up a man. Philadelphia’s Garnet Hathaway produced a short-handed goal late in the second to give the Flyers a 2-0 lead, though teammate Owen Tippett did the hard work, fending off two yellow-clad opponents to set Hathaway up.
“We don’t really get in sync yet,” Pittsburgh defenseman Erik Karlsson said. “You would think that we would dictate what we want to do out there, but they’re doing a good job and we’re not. That’s the bottom line.”
And time is running out. The Penguins have fallen behind 2-0 in a series 15 times and only rallied to win a third of them, the last in the 2009 Stanley Cup finals against Detroit.
Those Pittsburgh teams had featured a young Crosby and longtime running mate Evgeni Malkin still in the nascent stages of their careers. They’re both nearing 40 — Malkin will get there in July — and while they remain a threat every time they hop over the boards, the franchise icons and their teammates have been outskated and outplayed over the course of 120 minutes against a team that has 10 players making their playoff debut in this series.
“We’ve played 82 games,” Karlsson said. “We know how to play hockey in here. I think maybe we’re overthinking things a little too much. We’re not playing on our instincts.”
And as a result, the Penguins are playing from behind.
This isn’t the first time in the last seven months that Pittsburgh seems to have been on the verge of letting a promising season get away. The Penguins have navigated extended absences by both Crosby and Malkin and occasionally shaky play in net, among other things, on their way to a playoff spot that seemed like a longshot when training camp began.
The league’s third-highest-scoring team found a way to respond each time. On Tuesday, they’ll hop on a plane and make the short flight across the state hoping it’s not the final road trip of the year.
“I think that getting on the road and having a situation like this,” Crosby said, “hopefully brings out the best in us again.”
The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees will renew a rivalry for the first time this season.
These two teams have been dead-even lately with a 5-5 head-to-head record over the last ten games although the Yankees got the last laugh a season ago eliminating its rival from the playoffs. However, Boston should get a measure of revenge tonight.
My Yankees vs. Red Sox predicitons and MLB picks break down why the Over and the underdog have value on Tuesday April 14.
Who will win Yankees vs Red Sox today: Red Sox moneyline (-115)
For the moment, I’m kind of out on New York Yankees hurler Luis Gil. He needs to regain my trust, and there’s not much to suggest that will happen anytime soon.
He’s posted some of the worst underlying metrics in 2026 to begin the season for any starting pitcher. Getting simply hit hard regularly per inning with an average exit velocity that sits in the bottom 5% of the sport and an overall hard-hit rate that is only slightly better.
The command issues that tanked his 2025 persist, and a 6.40 xERA suggests a player who has been more bad than unlucky. The Boston Red Sox have enough power in the lineup to hurt him. They’ve done it before, and the sixth-best hard-hit rate in the league looms large here.
While Connelly Early’s 2.29 ERA is propped up by a 5.25 xERA, his 74th-percentile run value suggests real competence. At a pick-em price, the Red Sox have the better matchup.
COVERS INTEL:Gil's chase rate has ranked in the bottom 10 percent of baseball for over a full year now. In the 2025 season, it sat at the bottom one percentile (20.0%) and through two starts this year it has climbed only to the bottom 9th percentile (22.4%)
Yankees vs Red Sox Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-105)
It was a fairly easy Over bet for me as I projected a total of 9.4. The cool temperatures probably make this total a half run lower than it would otherwise be, and I get it, but it still isn't enough to overcome the struggles these two pitchers have.
We’ve talked about Gil and why Boston will have success, but New York should be able to score, too.
Early's 13% barrel rate, paired with an average exit velocity that’s actually worse than Gil's, is going to give the Bronx Bombers clear paths to run-scoring opportunities. I’d play this to 9.5 with a fair amount of confidence.
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets:6-5, +.92 units
Over/Under bets:7-5, +1.80 units
Yankees vs Red Sox odds
Moneyline: New York -110 | Boston -110
Run line: New York -1.5 (+150) | Boston +1.5 (-178)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-105) | Under 8.5 (-110)
Yankees vs Red Sox trend
The New York Yankees have hit the Team Total Over in 31 of their last 50 away games (+9.25 Units / 16% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Yankees vs. Red Sox.
How to watch Yankees vs Red Sox and game info
Location
Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Date
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
First pitch
6:45 p.m. ET
TV
TBS
Yankees starting pitcher
Luis Gil (0-1, 7.00 ERA)
Red Sox starting pitcher
Connelly Early (1-0, 2.29 ERA)
Yankees vs Red Sox latest injuries
Yankees vs Red Sox weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Formula 1 doesn’t have direct equivalents to other sports, but the personalities, pressure and pecking order of the pinnacle of auto racing translates surprisingly well to elite basketball players and teams.
Stack today’s grid against the NBA, and the parallels start to line up: dominant champions, rising stars, quiet operators and young prospects already carrying the expectations of millions.
If you're a fan of both sports, you're aware no comparison is perfect, but these match-ups really do frame where each of Formula 1’s biggest names sit alongside their possible NBA counterparts.
Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes — Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Kimi Antonelli arrived in F1 in 2025 with expectations far beyond his experience level, and already started signing his name in the record books.
Likewise, the Dallas Mavericks' Cooper Flagg, a 19-year-old sensation, is already in the running for NBA's Rookie of the Year. As with Antonelli, his stats are outstanding, as the youngest player to score 50 points, and the only teenager to ever score more than 50 points in a single game.
Much of the outside focus on both Antonelli and Flagg are on the next records they'll break. Their talent is obvious, and the timeline toward championship success is moving quickly.
George Russell delivers strong results but, despite starting many conversations, rarely sits at the centre of them. Like Jaylen Brown (Boston), Russell is core to a championship-winning operation (Mercedes), yet he has operated as a second option for much of his career and has proved he can lead when needed. The talent and consistency are there, even if the spotlight is taking its time in noticing.
Max Verstappen sets the standard every weekend and rarely gives races away when given the car to win. Like multiple-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, he controls everything without needing to look spectacular doing it. Results pile up because he makes the right decisions, lap after lap, season after season.
When performing at their very best, both superstars humble rivals with a seemingly ruthless ease.
Lando Norris has reached the level where wins and titles are now expected, not merely hoped for. Like NBA champion Jayson Tatum with the Boston Celtics, he can dominate a weekend but still has moments that leave the door open for heartbreak. Over a full season, though, both are firmly in the fight for championships.
Oscar Piastri, McLaren — Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri keeps everything controlled, on track, and under the radar. Like multiple-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, Piastri doesn’t need attention to be effective. The pace is there, the execution is clean, and wins follow. For these two athletes, you could almost argue that quietly delivering results is their loudest personality trait.
GOAT, meet GOAT. Lewis Hamilton remains one of the defining names of his era, even late in his career. Like LeBron James, he’s no longer at his absolute peak but remains capable of delivering at the highest level. The move to Ferrari carries the same weight as a late-career legacy chapter, similar to James' earned position on the Los Angeles Lakers' roster.
Charles Leclerc has the speed to win consistently, but hasn’t always had the platform to match it. Like Luka Doncic, Leclerc produces elite performances even when the wider team structure doesn’t fully support him, or the machinery lets him down.
When everything aligns, both of these stars can look like the best on the grid or court, and appear simply untouchable.
Ultimately, this comparison isn’t about forcing two sports together, it’s about perspective.
Formula 1 drivers operate in a different environment, but the same patterns show up in world-class athletes, NBA stars included: dominance, timing, opportunity and pressure.
Whether it’s a champion at their peak or a young driver just getting started, the roles are familiar — even if 'driving the lane' means something very different in the NBA than it does in F1.
SEATTLE — Seattle Mariners third baseman Brendan Donovan was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left groin muscle strain.
Donovan exited a 5-0 loss to the Texas Rangers with a left hip issue. He also has been dealing with right groin discomfort for two weeks and suggested it might be related to an Oct. 7 sports hernia surgery.
“It’s something that you have to closely monitor and keep watching on,” manager Dan Wilson said. “It’s a big surgery, and he did a great job of getting through it, getting to spring training, and the slow ramp-up in spring training. And now we’re into the season. So, it’s just continued monitoring.”
Donovan, 29, is hitting .304 and has three home runs, eight RBIs and nine walks in 18 games this season. The Mariners acquired Donovan from the Cardinals in February in a three-team trade involving the Tampa Bay Rays.
In other moves, the Mariners selected the contract of infielder Will Wilson, 27, from Triple-A Tacoma. Wilson, a first-round pick in the 2019 amateur draft, made his major league debut last season with the Cleveland Guardians. He hit .192 with four doubles, two RBIs and two stolen bases in 34 games with the Guardians. Wilson was signed by Seattle to a minor league contract with a spring training invite in January. In 14 games with Tacoma, Wilson has hit .275 with one home run and four RBIs.
The Mariners also transferred utility infielder Miles Mastrobuoni to the 60-day IL. Mastrobuoni, 30, who injured a calf while playing for Italy in the World Baseball Classic, began the season on the 10-day IL. He hit .250 with one home run and 12 RBIs across 152 at-bats last season in a part-time role.
The Chicago Cubs have won six consecutive games and outscored opponents 44-14 in aggregate.
My Phillies vs. Cubs predictions expect their winning ways to continue Tuesday against a struggling Philadelphia team.
Let’s break down why with my daily MLB picks for April 21.
Who will win Phillies vs Cubs today: Cubs moneyline (-120)
The Philadelphia Phillieshave scored two runs or fewer in five consecutive games, and it’s difficult to envision things getting much better tonight.
Philadelphia’s offense has been putrid against left-handed pitching, sporting a .260 wOBA (28th) and .549 OPS (29th). They now have to deal with Shota Imanaga, who has been one of the league’s best starters thus far.
While I believe Jesus Luzardo to be much better than his counting stats indicate, this is a tough matchup to truly get back on track.
The Chicago Cubsrank third in both wOBA and OPS against left-handed pitchers, and recorded 12 hits the last time they faced Luzardo.
COVERS INTEL: Only the Dodgers and Nationals rank ahead of the Cubs in wOBA and OPS vs. lefties.
Phillies vs Cubs Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-105)
Luzardo is sporting a painful 7.94 ERA despite striking out six batters for every walk issued and allowing hard contact just 28.6% of the time. He has a 1.93 xFIP and 2.45 SIERA, excellent numbers that suggest much better days are ahead.
Imanaga has been lights out to date with sparkling metrics in many categories (2.45 ERA, 2.49 xFIP, 12.68 K/9).
With strong bullpens behind these two starters — both teams rank Top 10 in xFIP this month — it’s difficult to envision either team putting up a ceiling performance at the plate.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 2-3, -1.82 units
Over/Under bets: 1-4, -3.67 units
Phillies vs Cubs odds
Moneyline: Philadelphia +108 | Chicago -113
Run line: Philadelphia -1.5 (+178) | Chicago +1.5 (-186)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-105) | Under 8.5 (+100)
Phillies vs Cubs trend
The Phillies have hit the Under in 10 of their last 15 games (+4.65 Units / 28% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Phillies vs. Cubs.
How to watch Phillies vs Cubs and game info
Location
Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
First pitch
7:40 p.m. ET
TV
NBC Sports Philadelphia, Marquee
Phillies starting pitcher
Jesus Luzardo (1-3, 7.94 ERA)
Cubs starting pitcher
Shota Imanaga (1-1, 2.45 ERA)
Phillies vs Cubs latest injuries
Phillies vs Cubs weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
For just the third year in NBA history, three teams failed to make the playoffs despite finishing the regular season with a winning record.
The previous two seasons with three teams missing the playoffs were 1970-71 and 2021-22. In all seasons prior to 1970, every winning team qualified for the playoffs.
In total, 43 teams in NBA history have finished the regular season with a record above .500 but didn’t make the playoffs. That means teams with winning records make the playoffs 95.1% of the time.
In 2025-26, Charlotte finished 44-38, Miami 43-39, and the Los Angeles Clippers 42-40 — but all three missed out on the playoffs after losing in the play-in tournament.
Despite all three teams this year posting winning records, none are close to the all-time highest winning percentage for a non-playoff team.
That honor goes to the 1971-72 Phoenix Suns, who finished 49-33 — a .598 clip — but missed out on the playoffs in a Western Conference led by the 69-win Los Angeles Lakers. The Suns have three of the best non-playoff records — in 1970-71 and 2013-14 the franchise posted identical 48-34 marks (Golden State also equaled that record in 2007-08).
Golden State and Houston are the franchises that have finished above .500 but missed out on the playoffs the most. Each team has done so six times.
Notably, out of the 43 times this feat has occurred, 31 happened to teams currently in the Western Conference, while just 12 are in the Eastern Conference.
Tennessee forward Nate Ament (10) attempts to score while guarded by Michigan guard Roddy Gayle Jr. (11) during an NCAA Tournament Elite 8 game at the United Center in Chicago on March 29, 2026. | Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Nate Ament has gone from a sure-fire NBA Draft declaration to a — well — we’ll see. The former 5-star prospect had a rocky start to his time with Tennessee, but turned it on in SEC play to show everyone why he was among the top five prospects in last year’s class.
The 6-10 freshman isn’t a lock to go inside of the top ten though, currently sitting in the middle of an absolutely loaded lottery draft class. In some of the previous year’s classes, Ament would be a no-brainer top five selection. However, this year’s group is one of the best we’ve seen in several years, which has clouded Ament’s projection.
Ament’s range currently seems slotted into the 8-16 range, which begs the question — would he simply be better off by punting a year and returning to Knoxville for his sophomore season? It’s certainly on the table, and based on the growth we saw from Ament throughout the season, it’s an exciting thought. Ament could benefit from another season in Tennessee’s strength program, which has a track record of transforming guys like Grant Williams, Admiral Schofield, Yves Pons and plenty of others into totally different players.
The question, of course, comes down to money. Based on the NBA rookie contract scale from this past season, Ament could earn $5.7 million as the No. 8 pick as a rookie. That number moves all the way down to $3.6 million as the 16th overall pick. Tennessee reportedly paid Ament over $4 million this past season. That number would obviously move up substantially if Ament were to return.
Ament has until Friday to make his initial NBA Draft decision.
He can declare, but still keep the door open for a return. Ament would then go through the NBA Draft process, gather information from teams, then make a final decision by May 27th.
Tennessee has already added VCU guard Terrence Hill Jr., Notre Dame forward Jalen Haralson, Belmont guard Tyler Lundblade, Cal guard Dai Dai Ames and Loyola-Chicago rim-protecting center Miles Rubin. The Volunteers are in hot pursuit of Wake Forest guard Juke Harris, who will take a similar feel-it-out process with the NBA Draft as Ament will.
Rick Barnes has depth needs left in the front court regardless of Ament or Harris’ decision. Expect that to be addressed in the coming week as Tennessee gets a feel for what comes next.
Mar 28, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) defends during the first quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Last week, NBA media submitted their ballots for regular-season awards, with the late-breaking stipulation that Cade Cunningham and Luka Doncic were indeed eligible despite playing fewer than 65 games. What a stupid rule. As we hope that one goes the way of the dodo bird in short order, and as hardware starts to come out with Victor Wembanyama winning Defensive Player of the Year last night, here are our picks. Not that we have ballots!
Most Valuable Player
Van: Looks like I’m going against the grain here! Truthfully, Gilgeous-Alexander is the league’s best player right now, and all arguments for him are worthy. And the Thunder are world-beaters with him on the floor. But here’s the thing—they’re still damn good when he rests, which is not his fault; they’re an amazing team! But the Spurs were quite meh in the 2,081 minutes that Wemby sat, and when he played, they were just as good as the Thunder. That, plus the larger defensive impact (see next section), gives the big Frenchman my vote over the Canadian. I’ll explain Brown once we get to All-NBA.
Zac: An otherworldly offensive player who also contributes to one of the best defences of all time and led his team to the best record in the league (again)? Yeah, this one was pretty easy. SGA is just on another plane right now. You know what he’s going to do, but he does it anyway. Oh, and when the game is on the line, he’s the one you want, averaging the most points per game in clutch time (6.5)—nearly a full point per game more than second-place Anthony Edwards (5.6)—to go along with the best plus/minus (+3.4). How could it be anyone else?
Jack: SGA is an excellent two-way player who was, quite clearly, the deserving MVP when you account for individual and team success. Wemby will get his soon enough, but it wasn’t his time just yet.
Finn: SGA was the best player in the world during the 2025-26 season. His consistency was unmatched, and his floor impact was as high as anybody’s. He shot 55.3% from the field as a guard while averaging 30+ points for the fourth straight year. Wemby is gonna win at least three MVPs in the next five years (assuming health), but we’re still in the Shai “era” for now.
Deolu: The evidence is pretty overwhelming for Shai over Wembanyama. Not only is he the main offensive factor, a notable defensive presence, and all-around the best player on the best team, but he’s also been scoring at historic rates. Not only is he totaling around 127 games straight with 20 points scored as a slender guard, but he leads the league in win shares and VORP (value over replacement player). His efficiency and pure scoring prowess make his season definitively MVP-caliber.
Defensive Player of the Year
Van: Is there any doubt who this should be? Voters agreed, as he was the unanimous selection last night. San Antonio was equivalent to the league’s best statistical defense when he played, and equivalent to the Dallas Mavericks when he didn’t. That’s an impact he didn’t have as a rookie, or even last year, when he was ineligible for this award. Second and third were more interesting selections that I’ll go into when we hit the All-Defensive teams.
Zac: If MVP was easy, then DPOY was a no-brainer. The only thing that could have stopped Wembanyama from winning this award was the right-intentions-wrong-result 65-game rule. Of course, he checked that box, dropping a casual 40, 13, five, one, and two in a blowout win against the Dallas Mavericks. You can pencil Wemby in for the foreseeable future—he’s that good of a defender.
Jack: Agree with everything Zac said. It truly feels like Wemby could dominate this award going forward, and the only factors that might stop him from winning it every season would be health and voter fatigue. Ridiculous defensive player whose bona fides are backed up by the eye test even more than the box score.
Finn: One stat sums this up: every single team in the NBA this year had an effective field goal percentage of at least 52%. When Victor Wembanyama was on the floor, though, Spurs opponents posted a sub-50% eFG%.
Deolu: You-know-who led the league in blocks for the third straight year and posted a steal per game. Interestingly enough, here is Ausar Thompson’s widespread inclusion on four of five ballots as the only guard; he has almost single-handedly made Detroit’s defense elite and has helped define their Bad Boys 2.0 playstyle.
Most Improved Player
Van: Every year, my choice comes down to who had the most consequential—and therefore biggest—leap. For that reason, I’m deviating from Bucks partisanship by leaving Rollins out, and I think the real voters made the correct call doing so too. To be clear, he made a giant leap this season, from fringe rotation player (on a two-way deal for most of last year, even) to quality starter, if on a bad team. To me, that’s not anywhere near the leap the other guys made. Duren was a quality starter on a playoff team and had some big-time statistical gains when you average them out per-36. NAW equaled Rollins’ scoring jump and surpassed it on that same per-36 basis, so I thought real hard about giving this to him. But ultimately, Avdija went from—once again—quality starter (on a non-playoff team) to All-NBA candidate and leading scorer on a playoff team, maintaining his efficiency in a bigger role. His statistical gains this year compared to last year surpassed those of last year to two years ago, so 2025–26 was more of an Avdija breakout. His is the biggest and most consequential leap any NBA player made this season. Rollins could follow this arc and go from quality starter to All-Star next year, and if he does, he’ll have my MIP vote.
Zac: Call me a homer, but I can’t go past our very own Ryan Rollins. He went from being a “can he play some meaningful minutes?” guy to “this dude might make an All-Star team!” in half a season. He played 47% of his career games this season; 71% of his career minutes. That leap is just absurd. Now he’s just as likely to get 30+ (three times) as he is to have nine or fewer points (four times). And he plays both ends. And he shoots 41% from three. Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Deni Avdija are worthy recipients too, but for Rollins to not even be a finalist is criminal (sorry, Jalen).
Jack: The MIP award is always somewhat tough to predict because of the different interpretations people can have. For me, Ryan Rollins embodies everything this award should be about, going from a two-way contract to potentially a long-time starter in this league (and possibly an All-Star too). These other guys were somewhat known commodities (not to say we expected this out of NAW). To me, Deni “broke out” last season.
Finn: Our guy Ryan jumped from a decent-at-best rotation player to a good starter with star potential. He posted career-highs in all five major categories while maintaining strong efficiency (52.3% from two, 40.6% from three) despite taking more shots and facing more defensive pressure than ever before. Homer pick? Sorta kinda. Deserving pick? Absolutely. Shoutout Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who will likely be the real winner and made an ascension with the Hawks that nobody expected.
Deolu: I’ll be the odd man out and pick Alexander-Walker here. Alexander-Walker went from a backup wing on a fringe contender in Minnesota to arguably The Man for one of the league’s hottest teams. The 11.4-point jump, along with career highs in rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks, plus notable boosts in efficiency, show genuine growth outside of usage. Also, shoutout to C’s center Neemias Queta. Queta was a fringe starter, barely managing 14 minutes a game last year. Now he is the centerpiece of Boston’s imposing defense and has posted career highs in virtually everything worth counting.
Rookie of the Year
Van: Milwaukee’s own Knueppel was the better player from start to finish this year. It wasn’t Flagg’s fault that he was miscast for a time thanks to Jason Kidd running the offense through him, which affected his production a bit, and it’s not as though he had a significantly worse season than his former Duke teammate. The huge efficiency gap, plus the fact that Knueppel was putting those numbers up on a play-in team as opposed to a 26-win squad, makes this an easy call.
Zac: Cooper Flagg will likely end up being the better player down the road, but this year you can’t go past Kon Knueppel. In addition to leading the league in three-pointers made, he was part of some of the best five-man lineups in the league, leading the Hornets to postseason (if not playoff) action. In some ways, this reminds me of the LeBron James vs. Carmelo Anthony ROY debate. The NBA got that wrong—it should have at least been a tie—but now they have a shot at redemption.
Jack: Really tough one. As Finn says, we are not meant to consider Kon’s play-in performance. I just think Kon impacted winning and was a key part of one of the best stories in the NBA this season. Flagg struggled somewhat early, then really hit his stride in the final third of the season, but the Mavs were not playing competitive basketball during that stretch, so I rewarded winning. I still think Flagg has a better career.
Finn: This was the toughest pick to make, and honestly, after Knueppel’s showing in the play-in, I don’t feel good about my decision. But it’s a regular-season award, and the young Hornet did things we’ve never seen before from a rookie, including leading the entire NBA in three-pointers made. No matter which way you shake it, he and Flagg both had special freshman campaigns.
Deolu: Knueppel’s season ended with a whimper in the play-in, but it shouldn’t erase the legendary rookie season he had. Knueppel’s worth extends farther than his league-leading three-point shooting: his all-around scoring (18.6 PPG) on 64% true shooting has pushed the Hornets from the bottom of the barrel to a spooky team. The race is closer than our ballots make it seem, but Kon narrowly gets the edge in my mock ballot.
Clutch Player of the Year
Van: Like I said last year, I still really don’t know how to determine who wins this one. And like last year, I just looked up who had the best scoring and shooting numbers in clutch situations. Murray’s were better in some ways than Ant’s and SGA’s, but he was sharing the clutch responsibilities with Jokic, unlike the other two, who were their team’s “guys.” Also, note to the NBA: keep track of game-winning field goals! Especially buzzer beaters!
Zac: I’ll reiterate what I said in my MVP paragraph: SGA is the one you want with the game on the line, averaging the most points per game in clutch time (6.5)—nearly a full point per game more than second-place Anthony Edwards (5.6)—to go along with the best plus/minus (+3.4). But it goes beyond this. As a guard, the ball is going to be in his hands, and if he doesn’t stick a dagger in your eye from the field, he’ll make it a slow, painful death from the free-throw line (where he’s the only player to average over two made free throws per game in the clutch).
Jack: As others have noted, this award feels gimmicky, but I guess I’ll go with SGA. He hit a tonne of clutch shots this season. He’s just got that quality where he never seems flustered; always in complete control under any circumstance. I thought Cade and Ant also deserve praise for what they did late in games this year.
Finn: For whatever reason, I can’t bring myself to seriously care about this award, so I didn’t put too much thought into it. Shai had the most memorable clutch moments, in my opinion, and the stats back up the selection. Ant hit that unbelievable turnaround OT-forcing triple on Christmas. McCollum had his fair share of late-game heroics for both the Wizards and the Hawks, including a game-winner against the Bucks.
Deolu: This rivalry game-winner says enough about Shai for CPOY. Kawhi Leonard sneaks his way onto my ballot for his three-game winners, including one in the NBA Cup against the Pels. His leadership as the star player and lead vet to steer the Clips from 6-21 to the play-in is also pretty clutch.
Sixth Man of the Year
Van: Seems like there was no clear-cut favorite for this award this year, but I like what Johnson did the most: a more well-rounded scorer than Hardaway, and more helpful than jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none Jaquez. Plus, the edge in team success. It was tempting to reward THJ for his career-best season from the field, though.
Zac: This debate seemingly comes down to preference: Jaime Jaquez Jr. vs. Keldon Johnson. Both are deserving candidates, but it’s Jaquez’s leap as a playmaker that gives him the edge for me. I also can’t ignore the fact that Johnson put up nearly identicalnumbers to last season (albeit slightly more efficiently), when he didn’t receive a single 6MOY vote. Shout-out to Bobby Portis too, who had another strong year despite the Bucks’ chaos—and should already have at least one of these awards.
Jack: Keldon was a major key to the Spurs’ success this year. He was truly all-in on winning and improved the areas of his game that needed work to play that role. I also thought Naz Reid had a strong year off the bench.
Finn: Big Body Keldon Johnson was the heart and soul of the Spurs this year as they established their dominance. He sacrificed usage in favor of impact and changed game after game for San Antonio with his energy off the pine.
Deolu: Jaquez averaged 15 points, five rebounds, and 4.7 assists off the bench on 57% true shooting. His offensive firepower helped Miami’s bench score 43.8 PPG (fourth in the league), and he leads Johnson in points, assists, and stocks. Without Jaquez on the bench, the Heat would be a shell of themselves. I’m not sure if I can say the same for Johnson.
Coach of the Year
Van: Usually, I base this vote on year-to-year improvement by incumbents, which is why Johnson (28 additional wins) and Lee (25) are on my ballot. Apologies to Darko Rajakovic (16) and Jordan Ott (nine), who mainly benefited from a healthier roster in the former’s case and a revamped roster in the latter’s. Bickerstaff got my vote last year because going from historically bad to playoff team (2024 to 2025) is crazy and more unprecedented than six-seed to 60 wins (2025 to 2026). But I can’t deny the gigantic smashing of expectations Mazzulla did with “gap year” Boston.
Zac: Look, Joe Mazzulla will probably win this award, and I have absolutely no issue with that—what he’s done with the Celtics sans Jayson Tatum et al. has been phenomenal and something no one saw coming. But I can’t ignore J.B. Bickerstaff’s efforts either. To go from lottery team to playoff team is one thing. To go from playoff team to 60 wins and the number one seed is another, especially when you lead your team to a 13-5 record without its best player.
Jack: This one was pretty easy for me. Mazzulla has done an unbelievable job turning a team that many thought was heading for a Pacers-esque gap year into a legit title contender. The way this dude has turned other teams’ trash into the Celtics’ treasure is truly astounding. Special shoutouts to Lee and Ott for how they transformed their teams from the previous season’s results.
Finn: Mazzulla is a basketball sicko and genius. The system he’s built in Boston is the reason why they were so good this year. Every single guy on the roster knows their role. The team plays the same way regardless of who’s in the lineup, and it always works. Joe, in my mind, is the real MVP candidate for Boston, not Jaylen Brown.
Deolu: It turns out they weren’t 2-26 bad. Bickerstaff’s has seen the Pistons jump 16 wins to a first seed and their first 60-win season in two decades, a whiplash-inducing turnaround. Additionally, Bickerstaff’s aggressive personality and coaching style have seen Detroit become arguably the best defensive unit in the league, with two potential All-NBA players (Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren) leading the charge.
Executive of the Year
Van: My rationale here often follows what I employ for Coach of the Year, but in this case, I have to go with Gregory despite leaving Ott off above. The first-year Suns GM completely revamped a flawed roster without a big cupboard of assets (sounds like something the Bucks could do). Peterson didn’t make any huge moves free agency or trade-wise, he just drafted well and benefited from better health—the Hornets weren’t too different. Same with Saleh’s Hawks, though he too made some savvy moves.
Zac: Deolu beat me to the point (see below). Peterson seemed to hit on every decision he made, but drafting three guys—including two second-round picks—who are a core part of a winning rotation stands out.
Jack: Peterson utilised the draft, trades, and free agency to completely transform a team that was a bottom-feeder just one year ago. Brilliant work. The Coby White trade, in particular, was a master stroke. Onsi Saleh gets in there solely off his trade with the Pels to get their first-rounder this year, LOL.
Finn: If you ask Mazzulla how the Celtics have achieved the role definition and connectivity I just gushed about (as I did when Boston visited Milwaukee on April 3rd), he’ll first credit the players, but then he’ll credit the front office. Brad Stevens sniffed out the players that fit the Boston ethos, allowing them to remain one of basketball’s best teams despite being forced to trade Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis over the summer.
Deolu: The Hornets had the best turnaround this season. Through Jeff Peterson’s savvy draft picks (Kneuppel, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Sion James), trades (Coby White for Collin Sexton), and hiring (second-year head coach Lee), the Hornets went from a sub-20 win team to a ninth seed in the East with aspirations of further growth.
All-NBA Teams
Van: Here’s where I talk about Jaylen Brown. All of us had him on our first team before the Doncic and Cunningham announcement. I had to put the NBA’s leading scorer (Luka) among the top five, but quite simply, Brown had a better year than Cunningham. A slight edge in efficiency and a larger one defensively outweighs Cunningham’s superiority as a passer, and Brown was certainly the more prolific scorer. The Celtics had only four fewer victories too. Shout out to Murray for a ridiculously good year that would have put him second team had it not been for the 65-game rule shenanigans, to Holmgren for the best two-way year outside of Wemby, and Wisconsin native Johnson for all-around offensive prowess.
Zac: The Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham “extraordinary circumstances” rulings changed my picks—initially, I had Jaylen Brown and Jaylen Brunson in my first team—but that’s another discussion in and of itself. I also continue to dislike the “positionless” nature of these teams, which leads them to be a list of the season’s 15 best players rather than realistic teams. All this said, I was higher on Avdija than most, who put up similar (if not better) stats than Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant, leading the Blazers to a better-than-expected record, while the Clippers and Rockets underwhelmed relative to expectations.
Jack: The first team drama re: Luka and Cade was addressed by others. If I were to single one guy out who really had an underrated year, it’d be LaMelo Ball. No longer is he this bit player that people make fun of; he is now a legit point guard who drives winning at a high level. The season that Kawhi put together was otherworldly, and I wanted to put him on the second team because of that.
Finn: Once Luka and Cade were approved, they were no-brainer first-team additions. Before that, I had Kawhi on my first team, who just had the best individual regular season of his Hall of Fame career. I made no real zag picks here— I thought LaMelo would be one, but Jack and Deolu made me look smarter, haha.
Deolu: The first five players are pretty much set in stone, but Jaylen Brown is pretty unlucky to miss out on a first-team nod. His career highs of 28.7 PPG, almost seven RPG, and just over five APG helped Boston avoid the injury slump. His stats aren’t quite good enough to hang with the likes of Shai, Wemby, Luka, and Jokic, but Jaylen Brown’s 60-or-so games as the number-one option on the C’s put him in a very real conversation with Cunningham for the final slot.
All-Defensive Teams
Van: This is all about impact for me, like the other awards. I just mentioned Holmgren, though he didn’t make my DPOY ballot for similar reasons to Shai: the Thunder were an elite defense when he played and merely really good when he didn’t. The Wolves were frankly terrible without Gobert and top-five equivalent with him, as were the Celtics depending on where you’d find White. Thompson is an outstanding individual defender for a top-ten unit, but didn’t have the on-off numbers to back it up, and I was just too impressed by White’s and Gobert’s. Three of my second team guys were also the best defenders on great defenses and merited spots (honorable mention to Dunn, whose Clippers weren’t quite good enough to get him on). Wallace is similarly great in his own right but affected by the same Holmgren dilemma. Then we have Queta, whom Delou discussed above. His on/off numbers elevated Boston from what would be the 20th-ranked D to the second.
Zac: I toyed with the idea of having three centres in my First Team, but decided Rudy Gobert would suffer from voter fatigue. Instead, I went with his teammate, Jaden McDaniels. He’s not as flashy as some of the other wing defenders out there—especially in terms of highlight plays and traditional defensive stats like blocks, steals, and rebounds. In many ways, he reminds me of another slender 6’9” wing defender who, despite making four All-Defensive Second Teams, never really got the praise he deserved: Tayshaun Prince. Plus, there’s a reason they call him “Seatbelt.”
Jack: I thought Camara started slow, but got back to his defensive best by about a third of the way through the year. Kris Dunn was a really underrated part of why the Clippers had the season they did after the rough start; he was nails all year on defence, and I thought he deserved his plauidts.
Finn: I had my first team penned in since probably December. All five guys up there would be fully deserving DPOYs, although Wemby has made it an uncontested race, of course.
Deolu: Derrick White is probably the most exciting person I chose on this list. It will genuinely be interesting if he can earn a First Team nod after being snubbed last year. White somehow averages more blocks (1.3) than steals (1.1) per game, and his role as the point-of-action defender is invaluable for the league’s second-best defense (behind the Thunder).
All-Rookie Teams
Van: Beyond the top two rooks, pretty clear that Edgecombe and Harper deserved plaudits for solid debuts on playoff teams. Bailey was good enough for a crap team. Fears and Queen were pleasant surprises, though not as much as Coward, Kalkbrenner (crazy value in the second round), and Raynaud. I admit I didn’t know who that Parisian was until late in the year. This rookie class is a touch underwhelming to me overall.
Zac: These seemed relatively straightforward for me. I suppose Cedric Coward could have taken Derik Queen’s spot, but Queen played 19 more games, which should mean something—and likely still suffers from the backlash of the trade that got him to New Orleans in the first place. I also really wanted to reward Sion James, whose defence will make him a valuable player for years to come, but couldn’t justify him above any of the other guys.
Jack: Jeremiah Fears had a really good year, and one that really surprised me as someone who thought he would be awful as a rookie. Maxime Raynaud looks like a gem for the Kings, as does Will Riley for the Wizards. I’m still undecided on Queen being a winning player, but he at least makes that trade more palatable.
Finn: Cooper Flagg is still the best long-term prospect in this class, but Dylan Harper isn’t far behind him. The bench role he was forced into (but thrived in) masked just how much of a stud he already is and is going to become. Ace Bailey, one of the most-discussed guys pre-draft, had a quiet year in terms of fanfare, but he looked like a real weapon in Will Hardy’s system and is still a strong bet to return top-five value.
Deolu: I’m surprised I’m the only one here with Kings guard Nique Clifford anywhere. Outside of disappointing shooting, Clifford has been a Swiss Army knife for a struggling, tanking squad. He averaged a respectable 8.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 0.9 steals in 75 appearances. Clifford overperformed as Tank Commander after Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan checked out for the season; in his last seven games, he averaged 17.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists on .500/.355/.842 shooting. He’ll be the sleeper to watch out from this rookie class in the future.
There you have it: our fake ballots. Why don’t you submit one too? Hit the comments, and also tell us if our picks are off base.
Donovan had an option year on his contract to coach the Bulls next season, but decided to leave the position. Chicago is still in the process of looking for a person to head up its basketball operations after the team fired executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley.
"Through honest conversations, we all agreed that giving our new Head of Basketball Operations the right to build out his staff was the most important thing for the future of this franchise. That is the kind of person Billy is – he put the Bulls first. We are deeply grateful for everything he has given to this organization," Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf partially said in a statement.
The 60-year-old Donovan went 226-256 in his tenure in Chicago, and the Bulls missed the postseason in each of the last four years.
"After a series of thoughtful and extensive discussions with ownership regarding the future of the organization, I have decided to step away as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls, to allow the search process to unfold," Donovan said in a statement. "I believe it is in the best interest of the Bulls, to allow the new leader to build out the staff as they see fit. My gratitude for this community and this organization is permanent."
Before coaching the Bulls, Donovan spent five seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he compiled a 243-157 record, with the team making the playoffs in each season.
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer coached at the University of Florida before stepping up to the NBA, leading the Gators to two national championships.
Coaching candidates to replace Billy Donovan as Bulls coach
While the Bulls are nowhere near deciding who will lead them for the 2026-27 season and beyond, speculation can run rampant about who should be the next coach. Here are five candidates who could be a fit in Chicago.
Wes Unseld, Jr.
Unseld, who was the Washington Wizards' head coach from 2021–2024, was Donovan's top assistant this season.
Johnnie Bryant
Bryant, 40, was close to securing the New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns jobs last year after being a finalist for both. He has spent the last two seasons as an assistant with the Cleveland Cavaliers under Kenny Atkinson
Sam Cassell
It seems like Cassell's name pops up every offseason as a candidate for head coaching jobs. He definitely deserves a chance at leading a team, with experience as an assistant with the Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers. He has been on the Boston Celtics' staff for the past three years.
Tom Thibodeau
A return to Chicago would certainly be interesting for Thibodeau, who coached the team from 2010 to 2015. Thibodeau is 68 years old, not one to change his philosophy, and was unceremoniously dumped after leading the New York Knicks to the conference finals last year.
Taylor Jenkins
The Bulls might be in full rebuild mode, and Jenkins would certainly fit in by bringing out the best in the Bulls players, as he did when he led the Memphis Grizzlies. In six seasons in Memphis, he led them to three playoff appearances, but couldn't get past the conference semifinals.
After treating their fans to a 111–98 victory in Game 1, the San Antonio Spurs will look to keep home-court advantage intact with another win against the Portland Trail Blazers tonight.
We break down Kalshi’s win probability markets and deliver some Trail Blazersvs. Spurs predictions to help guide your NBA picks for Tuesday, April 21.
Trading at 79¢ before the series opener, San Antonio is an even heavier favorite heading into Game 2, currently listed at 86¢.
Our prediction:Spurs to win
Victor Wembanyama has officially arrived. Not to overreact to an easy Game 1 win, but this version of the San Antonio Spurs should be feared by everyone in the NBA.
The Trail Blazers had a delightfully surprising season, but it would be an act of mercy by the NBA to shorten this series to best-of-five, if not best-of-three.
Sign up now using our exclusive Kalshi promo code 'COVERS' and get a $10 trading bonus after you trade $10 on any other event contracts — including Trail Blazers/Spurs!
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More Trail Blazers vs Spurs prediction markets
You're certainly not limited to the main game outcome for Trail Blazers vs. Spurs at Kalshi; you also have options to trade on the spread, total, and more, among other NBA odds markets.
You can buy either side of a market — for example, "Yes" on the Spurs -10.5 spread means the Spurs will cover, while "No" means the Trail Blazers will cover — with each side priced based on the implied probability (which can be converted to American, Decimal, or Fraction odds using theCovers odds converter).
Trail Blazers vs Spurs spread and total at prediction markets
Outcome
Yes
No
Spurs -10.5
54¢ (-117)
47¢ (+113)
Over 219.5 points
52¢ (-108)
49¢ (+104)
Our predictions:Over 219.5 points — No
The one thing the Trail Blazers should carry over from Game 1 is slowing down the pace. Fewer possessions give San Antonio fewer chances to enjoy its talent advantage.
Six of Portland's final eight regular-season games also cashed the Under.
Other Trail Blazers vs Spurs prediction markets available
Victor Wembanyama 25+ points (Yes: 69¢)
De'Aaron Fox 6+ assists (Yes: 53¢)
Donovan Clingan 10+ rebounds (Yes: 46¢)
What is Kalshi and how does it work?
Kalshi is a federally regulated U.S. exchange where you trade directly on the outcome of real-world future events. Instead of traditional bets, you trade "Event Contracts," which are simple Yes/No questions like "Will the Spurs win tonight?" These events are priced between $0.01 and $0.99, and the prices reflect the market’s estimated probability of that event occurring. For instance, $0.55 equals a 55% chance. If your prediction is correct, the contract pays out exactly $1.00; if not, it settles at $0. Kalshi is essentially a stock market for reality.
How does Kalshi differ from sportsbooks?
In a sportsbook, you bet against the bookmaker, who sets fixed odds and takes a "vig," which is a kind of commission. On Kalshi, you trade against other users. This peer-to-peer model means prices are driven by supply and demand, often resulting in fairer odds. Additionally, because these are financial derivatives, you can exit your position early. If your team takes a 14-point lead, the contract price will rise, allowing you to sell your "Yes" shares for a profit before the final whistle even blows.
Why should I wager on Trail Blazers vs Spurs at Kalshi?
Kalshi offers four unique advantages over traditional sportsbooks:
Flexibility: Unlike a "locked-in" bet, you can sell your contract at any time.
Transparency: You trade against other users, which can allow you to find better value.
Federal regulation: As a CFTC-regulated exchange, your funds are held in a secure, transparent environment.
Availability: Kalshi is available in 49 states (excluding Nevada) and D.C., including many regions where traditional sportsbooks aren't yet legal.
PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Randy Guzman #39 of the New York Mets bats during the third inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Clover Park on March 19, 2026 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Randy Guzman came into this series hitting .154/.267/.154, still looking for his first extra base hit. The young slugger found his power stroke over the course of the series, hitting a double, hitting a triple, and launching not one, not two, but three home runs. He went 3-5 on April 15th, hitting a triple and two of his three homers for the week, raising his slugging percentage from .129 to .417 in just a single game.
This time last year, Randy Guzman was on few, if any, radars. Coming into the season, he had two seasons of experience, both in the Dominican Summer League, where he was a cumulative .186/.324/.324 hitter in 67 games with the DSL Mets Orange and the DSL Mets Blue. While I, personally, don’t know how close to the chopping block he was, as an older player from the DR without much pedigree and who was not performing well, one imagines that Guzman did not have much going for him. What he did have on his side was the fact that he was the fact that he was a hard worker; Guzman was known to always hustle, to listen to his coaches, and to apply himself. When the 2025 season started, even though his numbers did not necessarily warrant it, the infielder/outfielder was sent stateside and promoted to the FCL Mets, a move meant to boost morale among DSL players by highlighting that hard work and perseverance is noticed.
Improbably, Guzman responded to the promotion. He got off to a strong start to the FCL Mets season and continued hitting. When the Florida Complex League season ended in late July, Guzman had hit .282/.371/.474 with 9 doubles, 7 home runs, and 15 walks to 33 strikeouts. Continuing to challenge the 20-year-old, he was promoted to the Single-A St. Lucie Mets and finished the season in the Florida State League. Guzman picked up right where he left off with the FCL Mets and hit .333/.381/.604 in 26 games with St. Lucie, logging 13 doubles, 2 triples, and 3 home runs, with 6 walks to 21 strikeouts. In 75 games in total, he hit .302/.375/.524 with 22 doubles, 2 triples, and 10 home runs, walking 21 times and striking out 54 times.
Coming into the season, Guzman was ranked 23 on the Amazin’ Avenue Top 25 Mets Prospects list- and had his spot increase two slots when Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat were traded for Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers in late January. The Mets had him begin the year with St. Lucie, but barring some severe regression, I would expect him to eventually make it as high as High-A Brooklyn sometime this year.
The data that we have on Guzman this year so far is so limited as to be nearly worthless, but in that limited dataset, the most striking thing that sticks out are the numerous problematic launch angles Guzman has put balls in play with; at the time of this writing, he is averaging a 6-degree launch angle. As mentioned, the data for Guzman is extremely limited at the moment, but broader trends bear this out: his line drive rate is currently 17.6%, his groundball rate 61.8%, and his flyball rate 20.6%. Hitting so many balls on the ground at this moment, running a BABIP of .226, it is no wonder that his batting average is straddling the Mendoza line at .200. As compared to his numbers in St. Lucie last season, the right-hander should be due for some positive regression. While he may not start playing like a .300 hitter on pace to hit 60 home runs, Guzman undoubtedly should begin playing better baseball as the season progresses.
Jose Chirinos
Week: 2 G (2 GS), 8.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 10 K (Single-A)
Born in Los Puertos de Altagracia, Venezuela, Jose Chirinos was signed by the Mets on January 15, 2022, the first day of the 2022 international signing period. Receiving a $10,000 signing bonus, the 17-year-old right-hander was assigned to the Dominican Summer League for the year, where he posted a 4.91 ERA in 33.0 innings, allowing 31 hits, walking 18, and striking out 29. He remained in the DSL for the 2023 season as well, posting a nearly identical 4.62 ERA in 39.0 innings with 40 hits allowed, 17 walks, but with a much improved 51 strikeouts.
The organization sent him stateside in 2024, assigning him to the Florida Complex League for the majority of the season, getting a single token inning with the Single-A St. Lucie Mets in September. The results were not great, but rather, more of the same, albeit at a higher level; the right-hander posted a cumulative 6.21 ERA in 37.2 innings, allowing 36 hits, walking 26, and striking out 44. Things changed for Chirinos in 2025, and he began seeing success. Starting the year out back with the FCL Mets, the right-hander made 4 appearances, starting 3 games, and posted a 2.35 ERA in 15.1 innings, allowing 11 hits, walking 6, and striking out 22. Returning to St. Lucie that June, he remained there for the rest of the season and ended up posting a 3.20 ERA in 56.1 innings over 15 games, 10 of which were starts. He allowed 40 hits, walked 30, and struck out 51. In total, the 20-year-old posted a cumulative 3.01 ERA in 71.2 innings, allowing 51 hits, walking 36, and striking out 73.
With his lanky 6’3”, 170-pound frame and long, flowing brown hair spilling out from underneath his cap, and low-effort, whippy, low-three-quarters arm slot, it would be easy to confuse Jose Chirinos on the mound with Jacob deGrom. Unfortunately, a slight physical appearance is where the deGrom comparisons end- at least for now.
Chirinos has a standard four-pitch repertoire, throwing a two-seam fastball, cutter, slider, and changeup. He generally utilizes his fastball roughly 50% of the time, mixing in his cutter, changeup, and slider at similar intervals, leaning more heavily on whichever pitch he has a better feel for at the time. In general, his slider has been his most effective swing-and-miss pitch, while his cutter has been his least.
His fastball has averaged 93 MPH so far this season, ranging 91 to 95 MPH. The pitch produces average spin rates for a sinker, but in general, because of the amount of active spin on the pitch, it does not have much movement. He commands the ball well, and rather than get his swings-and-misses on his fastball, it better serves as a set-up for his secondary offerings.
Chirinos’ slider is arguably his best strikeout pitch. Sitting in the high-70s-to-low-80s, the pitch has slurvy movement, with good horizontal movement and vertical break. He commands the pitch well and is able to get whiffs with the pitch at the lowest levels of the minor leagues, but will need to tighten up the pitch as he progresses up the minor league ladder.
His changeup sits in the high-70s-to-high-80s, with a much wider velocity band than you’d want for a changeup. Featuring minimal horizontal movement, his changeup is more effective in the lower end of that velocity band, as it acts similar to a bad splitter at the upper reaches of its velocity band. His cutter is arguably his least effective pitch. Sitting in the mid-to-high-80s, the pitch features very little movement; the pitch is effective when tunneled with his fastball or his slider, but in and of itself, the pitch lacks effective bite.
Fayetteville’s Gabel Pentecost winds up a pitch for a Wilson batter on Friday, April 3, 2026, during Fayetteville’s opening night game at Segra Stadium. | Andrew Craft / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
This will be your weekly look at the hottest prospects in the system, highlighting the top performers at the plate and on the mound.
Who’s Hot At The Plate?
Anthony Huezo – Huezo had a breakout year making his way to full-season and he’s off to a nice start this year. This week in six games, Huezo hit .364 with 2 doubles, a triple, 2 home runs and 3 stolen bases. Overall he has a .866 OPS through 13 games.
Will Bush – Bush has been really good to start the season and this week was no different. Bush played in five games for the Hooks and hit .333 with 2 home runs, 4 runs batted in and drew 7 walks. He has a .510 OBP with more walks than strikeouts this year.
Cesar Hernandez – Hernandez appears to really have found his swing this year. The 22-year-old played in five games this week for Asheville and hit .600 with 5 runs batted in and didn’t strike out once. On the season he .452 with only 4 strikeouts in 9 games.
Trevor Austin – Austin had possibly his best week as a pro. The utility player for the Hooks hit .313 but four of his five hits were for extra-bases included three home runs. He also walked four times and stole a base this week.
Yamal Encarnacion – Encarnacion has bounced around as a utility player but has been solid this year. This week the 22-year-old hit .444 with 6 stolen bases over 5 games for the Hooks. In 12 games this year he is hitting .318 with 9 RBI and 7 stolen bases.
Who’s Hot On The Mound?
Bryce Mayer – After a shaky first outing for Mayer, he turned in a good one this week. In his one start for the Hooks, the right-hander struck out 7 batters over 4 scoreless innings.
Gabel Pentecost – Pentecost had one great outing and one rough outing coming into this week. This week though, he turned in another good outing striking out 8 batters over 5 innings allowing just 2 runs for the Woodpeckers.
Ethan Pecko – Pecko has been pitching in rehab appearances for the Woodpeckers but his numbers this week were too good to leave off. He made one start in Fayetteville and struck out 8 over 3 scoreless innings. He should be ready for Triple-A soon.
Parker Smith – Smith has a chance to make some noise in 2026 and this week he was solid. In his one start he struck out 7 over 6 innings allowing 3 runs, though all came on a 3 run home run. It was a good outing and another step in the right direction.
TEAM ERA and OPS:
Sugar Land – From 2.17 ERA to 3.16 ERA – From .631 OPS to .682 OPS
Corpus Christi – From 3.18 ERA to 3.77 ERA – From .583 OPS to .673 OPS
Asheville – From 4.66 ERA to 6.52 ERA – From .634 OPS to .739 OPS
Fayetteville – From 5.67 ERA to 6.16 ERA – From .683 OPS to .709 OPS
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 19: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on after lining out to end the game against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on April 19, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Braves defeated the Phillies 4-2. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Phillies can’t do anything right at the moment. They’ve pitched poorly, their defense has been a mess, and their offense has been almost nonexistent. In addition to playing poorly, they’ve also had absolutely horrendous luck, as their .355 batting average on balls in play against is the worst in baseball entering Monday. In fact, it’s over 25 points higher than the team in second, namely the Houston Astros with a .324 mark. It’s 10 points higher than the all-time leaders in worst BABIP against, the 1930 Phillies (.345), who themselves just barely edged out the 2020 Phillies (.344). None of this is meant to be an excuse, but rather a statement of fact that the Phillies have been on the wrong end of batted ball luck.
However, bad luck and playing poorly are not mutually exclusive. On any given night, poor play can lead to more chances for bad luck, or bad luck can lead to a snowball effect of poor play. Take Saturday night’s loss to the Braves for example. The Phillies entered the third inning leading 1-0 thanks to Felix Reyes’ hitting a home run in his first major league at-bat. Cristopher Sánchez was on the mound and tasked with throwing a desperately needed shutdown inning. He struck out the first two hitters in Jorge Mateo and Ronald Acũna Jr., but then allowed a hard hit single up the middle to Drake Baldwin.
Sánchez was then able to get Ozzie Albies to ground into what should have been the final out of the inning, but Edmundo Sosa bobbled it on his way to tag second base and both runners were safe. Matt Olson then walked on four pitches to load the bases before Austin Riley hit a swinging bunt that only went 104 feet but was in a perfect spot. Couple that with Sánchez not fielding it cleanly, and the tying run scored without a throw on a hit with an expected batting average of .130. Mauricio Dubón then singled on a fly ball to center field that landed perfectly behind Sosa and in front of center fielder Brandon Marsh, scoring two more runs for Atlanta. Sánchez finally got a groundout to end the inning, but the damage was done.
Here we can see how poor play led to bad luck. Sánchez should have been out of the inning unscathed, but Sosa’s error allowed the chance for bad luck to occur, and that’s exactly what happened. Sánchez is not entirely innocent either, as his four-pitch walk of Olson immediately after the error allowed the inning to further spiral out of control. He didn’t allow any earned runs and still pitched well enough to win the game, but the three runs that came across in the inning were more than enough to beat the Phillies lifeless offense that was completely shut down by Chris Sale.
Sunday night was another example, this time on the offensive side. The Phillies had two runners on with two outs in the ninth down 4-2 with Kyle Schwarber at the plate. Schwarber ripped a Raisel Iglesias changeup to right field with an exit velocity of 102 MPH and an expected batting average of .430, but Acuña Jr. was able to chase it down and make a nice catch, robbing Schwarber of a possible game-tying base hit.
In this example, the Phillies frankly shouldn’t be waiting until their last out to generate offense. After all, the team had three combined hits from the second inning through the eighth inning and had a span of only having two base runners after Schwarber’s first inning home run until the fifth inning, both of which were Bryce Harper. You cannot control your luck, but you can control your quality of play. Having better at-bats earlier in the game can ensure that your chances to win don’t hang on your last out. If you play better, there’s less opportunity for poor luck to drastically influence the game.
These are just two of the more recent examples of one of these factors feeding into the other. There’s not much you can do against a perfectly placed swinging bunt or a good catch in the field. Those are things that are out of a player’s control. What is in a player’s control though is making sure games don’t have to come down to perfectly placed swinging bunts or getting robbed in the outfield.
The Phillies batted ball luck will normalize at some point. It’s simply unsustainable to be at the rate it is, even if they eventually end the season with a higher rate than usual. The question is, will it be too late to matter?
This team is starting to show that it has a lot of different ways to beat you. Monday night, Craig Counsell talked in his press conference about seven outs saved by his defense in a single game. I don’t know that all of the metrics will find all seven of those, but if you saw much of this game, you surely caught a highlight reel play or two by the defense. The defense sparkled, Colin Rea and a pair of relievers were fantastic and the Cubs offense put enough runs on the board for this one to feel like a fairly easy one.
You are rarely as bad a team as you appear to be when you are struggling. The same goes in the opposite direction. You are rarely as good a team as you appear to be when you are streaking. This team is on fire right now. The things you were worried about last week when this team had lost three of four games to drop to a season-low two games under .500 haven’t really gone away. Facing the Mets and Phillies when they are down is masking a lot of issues. This team is basically devoid of any frontline pitching right now. They also haven’t found their cohesion offensively.
On the other hand, they’ve been getting frontline type pitching numbers for a while now. And their offense is scoring a lot of runs. How well will all of that hold up as the competition stiffens? Well, we’ll start finding out later in the week. I suspect we’ll see a little more out of these Phillies, maybe even before the end of this series. But for now, it’s six straight wins and I’m not apologizing or giving any of it back. Keep taking advantage of timing. Keep adding on. Hopefully, this team starts getting some injured players back and in the interim, some guys earn playing time well into the time when this roster is healthier.
Baseball is so very fun when everything is going right. This is now a 95.7 win pace. That’ll play.
Three Positives:
Colin Rea was terrific. Defensive help or no, 20 outs recorded on 28 hitters faced. Six hits and two walks, but only one run. He struck out five.
Alex Bregman had two doubles in four at bats.
Moisés Ballesteros is absolutely crushing these cherry picked spots the team is giving him. A hit and a walk in two plate appearances. He scored a run. OPS sitting at 1.020. The Cubs will have to eventually give him some leash against lefties, but this is working like a charm right now.
Game 22, April 20: Cubs 5, Phillies 1 (13-9)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
Superhero: Dansby Swanson (.207). 1-4, HR, 3 RBI, R
Hero: Colin Rea (.190). 6.2 IP, 28 BF, 5 H, 3 BB, ER, 5 K (W 3-0)
Sidekick: Michael Conforto (.084). 0-0, BB, SF, RBI
THREE GOATS:
Billy Goat: Miguel Amaya (-.082). 0-4, DP
Goat: Nico Hoerner (-.024). 1-4
Kid: Michael Busch (-.010). 1-4, R
WPA Play of the Game: Dansby Swanson’s three-run homer with two outs in the second extended the lead to four and turned out to be more than enough. (.211)
*Phillies Play of the Game: Aaron Nola got Miguel Amaya to ground into a double play with the bases loaded and no outs, trading the game’s first run for two outs. (.070)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game21 Winner: Michael Conforto received 156 of 263 votes.
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 3/Bottom 3)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Nico Hoerner +10.5
Michael Conforto +7
Carson Kelly/Colin Rea +6
Matt Shaw -7
Seiya Suzuki -8
Pete Crow-Armstrong -15
Up Next: Game two of this four-game set with the Phillies. The Cubs are now up 3-1 in the season series and need to win one of the final three to win that season series. Another thing you’ve heard me say before: get greedy. Kick’em when they’re down. Let’s get two or three more while we are at it. No apologies, no regrets.
Shōta Imanaga (1-1, 2.45, 22 IP) makes his fifth start of the season. Last time out, he allowed one run on three hits and a walk over six against this Phillies team. Colin Rea bounced back nice on back-to-backs against the same team. Hopefully Imanaga can do the same.
Jesús Luzardo (1-3, 7.94, 22.2 IP) is also making the fifth start of his season. This has been a nightmarish start for the talented lefty. The Cubs had 12 hits and eight runs against him in just 5.1 innings last week. The Cubs usually aren’t as good against lefties, but this team is showing some promise against southpaws. But they are 2-4 when the other team starts a lefty.
Stay hot. A six pack is great, but seven is heavenly.
COVERS INTEL:
